Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-11-20

the Union S0lQler was ordered 10 INTERVIEW
in Austin were at that time in San
Antonio, so a night meeting was arranged
in a house about three miles outside of the
city, on the banks of Salado creek. 1t was
a log cabin of one room, about l4x14, with
another room in a ~'leap-to" of boards.
There was no window, but the house was
supplied with three doors and openings be-
tween the logs in several places. Thu
owner, a man Of about 80 years of age, was
a grazier; loved the old flag dearly, and
treated his guests to the best coffee, fried
bacon and pone in the establishment. AS
the visitors had been very ~circumspect in
their coming to this humble home, the
conversation was conducted as If dis
turbance from outsiders would be impos-
sible. The secret service officer delivered
his dispatches and verbal instructions in
accordance with the orders revived, after
which he was entrusted with documents
which would endanger the lives of scores
of men in Texas if the reached the hands Of
the Confederate officials. It was decided
that he should return to Matamoras at once
and forward his papers, etc to the United
States authorities, hut when in the act of
placing them in his bosom, the tramp of
several horses was heard; in a few minutes
the house was surrounded by a squad of the
Second Texas Mounted Rifles, and one Of
the number appeared in the door way, rifle
in hand, demanding immediate surrender.
The Union soldier, knowing that com
pliance with the intruder's invitation
meant death for himself and the dcstruc-
ton of others, created o vacancy in that
troop by an excellent snap shot with a re-
v~olver; the leaden messenger struck the
lieutenant fairly between the eyes, and
falling inward his body was caught, drawn
into the roOm aud the door closed. The
squad OF Ccnfederates, consisting OF Is,
seemed to nave lost their heads when the
body of their commander was indoors, ~
they remained in solid body in front of the
aperture for some minutes, u only scat
tered when four of their number had
fallen from their steads from the deadly
fire OF the besieged. The attacking party
had the advantage in numbers, bat the
boss inside knew it was n get-out-Or- be
hung business and determined to make
their death or capture an expensive affair
10 the outsiders. As the horses Of the
Union boys were tied TO the rear of the
house, two of them slipped out the hack
door and opened such an interesting tusil.
ade upon the gray-hacks that they kept a
respectful distance and only occasionally
fired Il rifle shot, which did no damage TO
human life. A consultation was held by
the corralcd party, and as daylight would
bring with it the possibility Of re.cnfcrce
neHts to and capture by the enemy, ii was
decided TO make n break and fight their
way through, Three of the five composing
the crowd were TO take the direction to-
ward the north, making a detOur to the
left and Join the remaining two in the
vicinity of the NueCeS river, a few
miles north of Fort Clarke. To keep out
Of range of the rifles of the boys in the
rear Of the house, the COniederates had
| taken UP a position about 500 wards from
the front OF the building. whose rear faced
the creek, distant about 300 yards. With
n selfabnc2ation that was pure, unadul'
terated herOism, three Of the Union mel
volunteered to make the forward move
ment, the other two to remain in the rear
Of the building when the charge through
the enemy was attempted. Putting spur
to their steeiS, they galloped tearlessly
towards the nine remaining troopers, not
firing until withif close proximity, when
a hand to-hand fusillde ensued; at that
moment the two persons who had re-
manned mounted back OF the house struck
a Decline for the creek and were in the act
of entering the shallow waters when their
actions. observed ny the enemy, started
three of their horsemen in hot pursuit OF
| the Tunawaya.
The creek IVES about 100 yards broad
and, ut its fordahle point thickly hordered
Ivy chnpparal, which with other shrubs OF
like prickly nature formed an inpenetrable
mass everywhere but at q spot scme five
wards below, where a bride path had been
cut through. the creek crossed, they
tethercd their horses short distance in the
path, and returning arrived in the shadow
Of the trees Oh the hank of the creek while
the three Confederate warriors were in the
act of carefully tording, and which proved
TO two of them a veritahle StYX, as the
bullets of the secreted pair were sent with
deadly am The third pursuer turned like
n fash and was doing his level best to
make an early report at headquarters when
last seen. Mount and he of was the
next movement, and two men, their
horses at full speed, were soon
Qeeing west in the direction of the Rio
| Cirande river, slackening their gait when
in the vicinity of n little branch of the
| Medina river, where under the protection
of a live.oak grove, by the side of a pure
spring, notes were compared and lnvento-
RES taken. One was the proprietor of the
residence in which the suddenly adjourned
meeting had taken place and the other the
disguised secret service officer. The for
mer had escaped with the loss OF the lower
part of his right ear, and the latter was
J somewhat repaid for his hOspltable
treatment of the Texan lieutenant,
as the tleshy part Of his left Ice
had been plOughcd by a rifle bullet, in ad-
dition to mis- clothing being perforated in
three places. The soldier was quickly
fixed up by his companion, who under
stood the treatment of wounded calves, and
as no arteries had been touched, the only
disagreeable result was a very stiff and sore
limb. As the Texan grdzier having for
some wears heen the owner of n large herd
of cattle, was thoroughly acquainted with
the geography Ofthat region, he was consld-
cred competent TO hold the remarkable po-
sition Of guide to the rendezvous on the
banks of the Nueces river.
The officers being entrusted with valua-
BILE documents and no facilities around to
COPY them in cypher they had to be con
ceaied, as destruction of the paper was not
even thought of, for by so doing the most
valuable results Of his investigating tour
would be lost 10 the United States Gov
eminent. They wee in the possession OF
good horses, armed with rifles, revolvers
and sufficient ammunition to supply any
call. After resting their steeds for a couple
of hours the route was again taken up,
aud the comrades expected to reach by
shutdown a sheep-iarm, owned by a
German, who, the grazier said, was
a good friend of his and where a good sup
per and shake down for the night could be
obtained without much danger of capture.
The day passed on, as expected, without
encountering much of special note. The
raute led across a range of elevated lands
between the heds OF Insignificant brooks,
tributaries of the Nueces. The soil was
black and the grass abundant beneath the